Pelvic Ultrasound

What is pelvic ultrasound?

A pelvic
ultrasound (sonogram) uses reflected sound waves to produce a picture of organs and
other structures in the lower abdomen (pelvis).

Pelvic ultrasound can be done three ways:

Transabdominal ultrasound, which uses a small handheld instrument called
a transducer, passed back and forth over the skin of the lower abdomen

Transrectal ultrasound, which uses a transducer shaped to fit into the rectum

Transvaginal ultrasound, which uses a transducer shaped to fit into a woman’s vagina

Who needs pelvic ultrasound?

A pelvic ultrasound may be recommended to find the cause of blood in the
urine, difficult urination, or pelvic pain. They may also be used during
cancer diagnosis.

For women, pelvic ultrasound may be recommended to:

Find the cause of unexplained vaginal bleeding

Diagnose pelvic inflammatory disease

Locate a misplaced intrauterine device

Monitor the condition and size of the ovaries during infertility treatment

Confirm a
pregnancy, determine the age of an unborn baby, check the viability of a pregnancy,
or detect an ectopic or multiple pregnancy. Find more information about
pregnancy in our
pregnancy health library.

Get more information on a lump, fibroid, or other mass found during a physical
examination of the pelvis

Help guide instruments used to remove an ovarian follicle for in vitro
fertilization

For men, a pelvic ultrasound may be done to:

Examine the seminal vesicles, and the texture, size, and condition of the
prostate gland

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians
on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners
who are not employees or agents of
Methodist Health System, Methodist Health System, or any of its affiliated hospitals.

Methodist Medical Group is owned and operated by MedHealth and staffed by independently practicing physicians who are employees of MedHealth. The physicians and staff who provide service at this site are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System or any of it's affiliated hospitals.